Absorption process



June 24,` 1930. P. T. sHARPLEs ABSORPT'IN PROCESS Filed April 4, 1925 Patented dune 24, 1930 l HILIP Til/IESE' SERYLES, GI' MERIN, PENNSYLVANIA, SSEGNOR TO THE SHRPLES SPECIALTY" COMPANY, 0F PHILDELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPQMTION 0F DELAWARE v ABSORPTION PROCESS application mea April 4, 1925. serial no. 20,758.

' This invention is an improved process for effecting the segregation of gasoline vapors from natural gas by means of a liquid men-I struum making intimate contact With the gas and having a high absorption efficiency resulting from the removal from the circulating menstruum of contaminating particles held in suspension therein and which cannot be removed by settling. By subjecting the menstruum, preferably after saturation and stri ping, to high centrifu al force, there is e ected the removal thererom of moisture held in colloidal suspeni sion and also of nely divided solids, such as particles of suspended carbon, dust, sand, clay, pipe scale, metal and inorganic salts which accumulate in the operation of ay plant and which enmesh in the menstruum further moisture and impede the mechanical operations of the plant.

'The presence of moisture in oily menstruum has a distinct retarding eect upon the absorption from xgas of 'vapors soluble4 in the lmenstruuma which may be due to changes 1n surface tension or to change 1n the de ree of solubility. By lthe removal from t e menstruum of such moisture and other contaminatin particles, not only is the absorption eciency markedly increased, but the'mechanical operation.` of 'the plant is greatly simplified and improved,

since absorption towers need not be'cleaned of sludge accumulations; stills need. not be -freed of carbon accumulations; circulation will not be interrupted by sedimentation at lovv points or traps in the system; danger of freezing of Wet sludge accumulations vis avoided; excess and disadvantageous moisture in tail gas is revented; and the gasoline produced is o -good colorovving to the i elimination of finely divided sludge or carbon particles which, when present, act catalytically to produce polymerizable hydrocarbons in distillation and are carriedover in part with Hthe gasoline vapor from the still to color the condensed gasoline.

ln the practice of my invention, cooled absorption menstruum, such las mineral seal oil, is pumped in a cyclic operation through absorption tower, Where it comes into mbons and lower boiling point hydrocarbons;

and the gasoline vapors are stripped from the oil by distillation' with saturated or superheated steam, or recirculated hydrocarbon vapor, which is never completely dry. The strippedmenstruum is preferably passed through a heat exchanger and cooling coils before being returned to the absorp` tion tower. and distillation, the oil becomes contaminated with moisture and minutely divided solid particles, and such contaminated oil is subjected at a convenient point in the cycle to high centrifugal force, 'preferably by passage through a rapidly rotating tubular bowl having an imperforate Wall and small diameter relatively to its axial length. While it is desirable to pass the entire body of oil through the centrifuge durin each. cycle, this is often impracticable, an eiective `results may be accomplished by by passing a portion of the total circulating oil through the centrifuge in each passage As a result of the circulation lof the oil through the plant.V ,l convenn ture is loW enough so that moisture and f sludge are precipitated in proper physical condition for edective removal. 'lfhe spec'ifu ic design `of the plant in which my process is installed may, however, render desirable the Withdrawal of the oil at a diferent point and lowertemperature such as the end of the cooling coils before the oil returns to the absorption tower, which location is su perior for plants operating under saturated steam conditions. D d

My copending application Serial No.,

44,907, filed July 20th, 1925, is directed to y the solution of a roblern having features in common with this invention; andan that lwhich the distillate is evolved colloidal a plication the claims are not limited to the dividing of the streamv of absorption menstruum and the centrifugal treatment of one branch of that stream'.4

B my improved process the colorl of a distillateis improved by extracting by centrifugal force from the substance from ar- .ticles which if allowed to remain pro uce polymerizable products in distillation.

The accompanying drawing illustrates dia'- grammatically a plan for the practice of my invention and shows an absorber A supplied with gasoline-saturated gas from the pipe line B and with absorber oil from the pipe C. Unabsorbed constituents of the gas escape from the absorber through the outlet D and the gasoline saturated'cil is drawn through the pipe L- by the pump F and pumped through the pipe Gr to the heat exchanger H.. The warmed oil passes through the pipe to the preheater J from whence it tiows to the stili K from which the vapor is drawn ofi through the condensable vapor outiet L., The hot stripped oil passes from the still through the pipe M to the pump N by which itis pumped through the pipe O to the heat exchanger H, where it gives up a part ci its heat. The hot oil owing from the heat exchanger H is divided, a portion of it passing directly through the pipe P to the cooling coils Q, and the remainder pass.

ing at a temperature of approximately 220 F. through the pipe R to the inlet of the centrifuge S by which thel impurities are extracted. rl`he cleaned oil from the centrifuge iows into a reservoir T from which it is pumped by a pump U into the pipe line P -where it joins with the remaining oil flowingto the cooling coils Q. The cooled oill passing from the cooling coils flows through the pipe C to the top of the ab sorber A.

Having described my: invention, I claim:

gasoline vapors from natural gas by contact with'an absorbent liquid, stripping the gasoline vapors from the'liquid by distillation, subjecting a portion oi the stripped liquid to high centrifugal force, and absorbing further gasoline vapors in the combined centrifuged and uncentrifuged liquid in la cyclic operation.

2. The process of removing gasoline from natural gas which comprises establishin an endless circulation oi absorption oil an in the course ci its circulation, successively absorbin' therein gasoline from naturai gas andndlstiliing the absorbed gasoline therefrom; dividing the derving stream orm oil along a limited' part of its courseV into a plurality ci paths, and applying centrifugal force to the oil along one o said paths to se arate therefrom contaminating material o higher specic gravity than the oilu l'. The processwhich comprises extracting 3..,The proeess of-removing gasoline from natural gas which comprises establishing an endless circulation of absorption oil an in the coursev of its circulation, successively abv l 4f. The process which comprises absorbing a constituent of a gas in and stripping it from a liquid mentruum in a cylcllc operation, subjecting a portion of the stripped vliquid to high. centrifugal force to separate therefrom contaminating material of higher speciiic gravity than the menstruum, and abv sorbing further quantities et said constituent in. the combined centrifuged and uncentriuged menstruum in the cyclic operation.

5. The process of recovering a constituent ci a gas which comprises estabiishing an endless-circulation ci absorption eiland in the course of its circulation successively lalosorbing therein said constituent and distilling the absorbed constituent therefrom, dividing the flowing stream ci oil along a limited part of its course into a piurality of paths, and applying rceiitrifugal; torce to the oil along one of said paths to separate therefrom contaminating material of higher specic gravity than the oil.

6. iThe process of recovering a constituent lof a gas which comprises establishing an endless circulation of absorption oil and in the course of its circulation successively absorbingtherein said constituent and distilling the absorbed constituents therefrom, dividing the stream of oil flowing from said distilling. step tosaid absorption step into a luralityY of paths, and appiying centriitugal forceto the oil along one of said paths to separate therefrom contaminating oil.

7. The process which comprises the absorption o a condensable hydrocarbon in a material of higher speciic gravity than the i* ne l 

